Brussels, 29/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - At the EU-US summit in Washington on 28 November, both sides called on Syria to bring an immediate end to the violence and allow a peaceful transition to democracy in the country. The US and EU called for human rights observers to be immediately allowed into the country, along with international reporters.
EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discussed coordinating response to events in the Arab World, including Syria.
In a press release the same day, Ashton said: “Given the gravity of the situation and the urgency for the international community to respond, the EU is now calling for a Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council”, adding: “I welcome the decision by the League of Arab States to impose a range of restrictive measures against the Syrian government, in the face of continuing violence and human rights abuses, and following the government's refusal to accept an observer mission of the League.”
“I welcome today's publication (Ed: 28 November 2011) of the report of the independent International Commission of Inquiry. I am gravely concerned by its alarming findings on violations of international human rights law in Syria since March 2011. The Commission of Inquiry has identified widespread and systemic violations of the human rights of civilians by the state and its armed and security forces, based on numerous credible first hand reports. The Commission of Inquiry concluded that members of the Syrian military and security forces have committed crimes against humanity in 2011.” (CG/transl.fl)